The Month in Horror Releases: May

The months of horror keep rolling on, this time into May with a few films that look very promising. While we’re not seeing much this month as far as big budget horror goes, we are getting one of indie horror’s most talked about films this year in Revenge, plus a few more that look quite promising. But before we get into all of that, here’s what I watched in April:

Ghost Stories (review): Although it finds itself struggling in a lot of the same ways that most anthologies do, Ghost Stories still has a lot to offer, especially in its final act.

May 4

Gehenna: Where Death Lives (VOD)

Director: Hiroshi Katagiri

Cast: Doug Jones, Lance Henriksen, Patrick Gorman

A group visits Saipan to search for locations for their company’s newest resort. As they find what they think is the perfect spot, they discover a hidden Japanese bunker from WW2 on the property which they decide to explore. However, they soon find out that curiosity can kill. As each member faces their most private secrets and the secrets of the bunker itself, the results lead to a most shocking conclusion…

The Cleanse (Theaters & VOD)

Director: Bobby Miller

Cast: Anna Friel, Johnny Galecki, Anjelica Huston

A heartbroken man attends a spiritual retreat to cleanse himself and fix his broken life. There he meets a fellow lost soul, and together they discover that “the cleanse” releases more than everyday toxins…a lot more.

May 11

Breaking In (Theaters)

Director: James McTeigue

Cast: Gabrielle Union, Billy Burke, Richard Cabral

A woman fights to protect her family during a home invasion.

Revenge (Theaters & VOD)

Director: Coralie Fargeat

Cast: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe

Never take your mistress on an annual guys’ getaway, especially one devoted to hunting – a violent lesson for three wealthy married men.

House of Evil (VOD)

Director: Luca Boni, Marco Ristori

Cast: Andrew Harwood Mills, Lucy Drive, Désirée Giorgetti

Based on true events, House of Evil follows a young couple who, in the 1970s, move into a large, remote house in the countryside with hopes of starting a family. However, it’s not long before they are menaced by ghosts and a darker demonic presence.

May 15

Island Zero (VOD)

Director: Josh Gerritsen

Cast: Laila Robins, Adam Wade McLaughlin, Teri Reeves

A fishing community on a remote Maine island finds itself suddenly cut off from the rest of the world after the ferry stops coming. When people start to vanish, the terrified survivors realize that someone – or something – is hunting them.

May 18

Cargo (Netflix)

Director: Ben Howling, Yolanda Ramke

Cast: Martin Freeman, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter

A post apocalyptic thriller and an emotional story of a father trying to save his child at all costs.

May 25

Feral (VOD)

Director: Mark Young

Cast: Scout Taylor-Compton, Olivia Luccardi, Lew Temple

Students fight to survive a weekend in the woods.

May 29

They Remain (VOD)

Director: Philip Gelatt

Cast: William Jackson Harper, Rebecca Henderson

Two scientists who share a romantic history are tasked with investigating unnatural animal behavior on the site of a Manson Family-style cult’s compound.

Predictions

What you shouldn’t miss:

Without a doubt, May’s must-see movie goes to Revenge.

One of the movies I kept hearing about last year was Coralie Fargeat’s indie thriller Revenge, which found a lot of genre fans hyping it up after its successful festival run. Even with all the hype, I still don’t think there’s nearly enough people talking about it. Watch the trailer, it sells itself.

What you should take a chance on:

With the VOD market as strong as it is, we’re seeing more and more quality horror films hit streaming services each and every week. There’s plenty to look forward to this month, but if you had to take a chance on something, keep an eye on Cargo and The Cleanse.

While I don’t think it’s going to blow anyone out of the water, if Cargo is half as good as the short it’s based on, it will certainly be worth a look.

Although its long road to release is concerning—especially with practically no marketing—The Cleanse sounds like a quasi horror-comedy with an old school supernatural vibe to it.

Revenge: When I first started watching the trailer I thought, This better not be the same old thing, but it sure doesn’t look that way. I bet this will be a cathartic viewing experience for a lot of women.

Am looking forward to Cargo because, for some reason, I feel I have to see everything Martin Freeman is in.